Resume guide · Updated October 2026
Architect Resume Example and Writing Guide
Short answer
An architect resume should state your license status first (licensed in which state, or ARE divisions passed and AXP hours logged), then a summary naming your project types, and experience listing projects with size, construction cost, phases and your role. Add the software you document in, such as Revit, AutoCAD and Rhino, your accredited degree and a portfolio link.
| Median pay (May 2025) | $99,280 per year ($47.73 per hour) |
|---|---|
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
| Job outlook, 2025-35 | 4% (As fast as average) |
| Number of jobs | 124,600 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Architects, checked 27 October 2026.
Architect resume example
Below is a full architect resume for Elena Varga, a fictional project Architect, Healthcare and Higher Education in Minneapolis, MN. Keep the section order, then replace each line with your own work and results.
Elena Varga, AIA
Project Architect, Healthcare and Higher Education
Minneapolis, MN · elena.varga@example.com · (555) 012-6640 · linkedin.com/in/elenavarga · Portfolio: elenavarga.example.com
Summary
Licensed architect (Minnesota) with 9 years in healthcare and higher education, the last 5 as project architect. Runs projects from schematic design through construction administration, coordinates consultants and owner user groups, and leads Revit models for teams of 4 to 6. NCARB Certificate holder and LEED AP BD+C.
Experience
Project Architect, Hollis & Brandt Architects
Apr 2021 to present
Minneapolis, MN
- Led a 68,000-square-foot outpatient clinic ($31M construction cost) from schematic design through construction administration, coordinating structural, MEP and civil consultants.
- Managed a 240-sheet Revit drawing set for a team of 5 and issued permit documents two weeks ahead of the owner schedule.
- Reviewed 410 submittals and answered 180 RFIs during construction, keeping change orders under 3% of construction cost.
- Ran user-group meetings with clinic staff for 14 department layouts and documented every decision in meeting minutes the owner signed off.
Architectural Designer, Lindqvist Studio
Jun 2017 to Mar 2021
St. Paul, MN
- Produced design development and construction documents for a 120,000-square-foot university science building, including wall sections, details and door schedules.
- Built Rhino and Enscape studies for 3 design competition entries; one was shortlisted.
- Completed IBC code analysis (occupancy, egress, fire separation) for 6 projects and walked it through with city plan reviewers.
Architectural Intern, Calder Design Group
Summers 2015 and 2016
Madison, WI
- Drafted existing-conditions plans in AutoCAD from field measurements of 4 historic buildings.
- Built study models and presentation boards for 5 client meetings.
- Logged AXP experience in practice management and project planning under a licensed supervisor.
Selected projects
- Lakeview Outpatient Clinic, 68,000 SF, $31M, project architect (SD through CA)
- Hayes Hall Science Building, 120,000 SF, $64M, architectural designer (DD and CD)
- Riverside Library Renovation, 22,000 SF, $9M, project architect (LEED Gold)
Education
Master of Architecture (M.Arch), NAAB-accredited, Northern Lakes University
2017
B.S. in Architectural Studies, Northern Lakes University
2015
Certifications
Registered Architect, Minnesota (active) · NCARB Certificate · LEED AP BD+C (GBCI)
Skills
Revit · AutoCAD · Rhino · Enscape · Bluebeam Revu · Adobe InDesign · IBC and ADA code analysis · Construction documents · Construction administration · Consultant coordination
Architect resume summary examples
3 architect summaries, one each for architectural designer (pre-license), licensed project architect and senior architect or studio lead. Pick the closest and rewrite it with your own title, years and one real result.
Architectural designer with an M.Arch from a NAAB-accredited program and 2 years at a 25-person firm. Produces construction documents in Revit, details wall sections and builds client renderings in Enscape. 1,900 AXP hours logged and 2 ARE divisions passed.
Licensed architect with 8 years in multifamily and mixed-use housing, leading projects of 150 to 300 units. Coordinates structural and MEP consultants, runs drawing sets in Revit and handles construction administration from submittals through punch list.
Senior architect and studio lead with 15 years in K-12 and civic buildings. Leads client presentations and community meetings, mentors 8 staff toward licensure and maintains the firm Revit standards. AIA member and LEED AP BD+C.
Architect resume objective examples
Use an objective instead of a summary for new graduate and career changer situations: one or two sentences on what you bring and the architect job you want.
M.Arch graduate (2026) seeking an architectural designer position where I can produce construction documents in Revit, keep logging AXP hours and work on healthcare or education projects.
Civil drafter with 4 years producing site plans in AutoCAD Civil 3D, now completing an M.Arch part time, seeking a junior designer role where site, grading and permitting experience support building design.
Architect resume bullet points
Bullets grouped by design and documentation, project management and coordination, construction administration and codes, sustainability and clients. The numbers are illustrations; put in your own.
Design and documentation
- Tested 3 massing schemes for a 42-unit affordable housing project against zoning setbacks, height limits and parking requirements.
- Produced 180 construction document sheets in Revit, including enlarged plans, wall sections and finish schedules.
- Detailed a curtain wall and rainscreen envelope with the facade consultant and resolved 22 clashes in Navisworks before bid.
Project management and coordination
- Managed fee and schedule for 4 concurrent tenant-improvement projects totaling 85,000 square feet.
- Coordinated 7 consultants on a fire station design through biweekly meetings and a shared action-item log.
- Prepared a permit set that cleared city review in one round, with 9 comments resolved in 10 days.
Construction administration
- Reviewed 300+ shop drawings and submittals and answered 140 RFIs within a 5-day turnaround.
- Made biweekly site observations and wrote field reports with photos for the owner and contractor.
- Led punch-list walks for a 90,000-square-foot middle school and closed 600 items before substantial completion.
Codes, sustainability and clients
- Ran IBC and ADA analysis for occupancy, egress and accessible routes on 10 projects.
- Worked with the MEP engineer on energy model reviews that helped a library renovation earn LEED Gold.
- Presented 3 design options to a 12-member school board and folded their direction into the design development set.
Skills for an architect resume
18 skills employers list in architect postings. Include the ones the posting asks for and that your bullets prove.
| Type | Skills |
|---|---|
| Hard skills | Schematic design, Design development, Construction documents, Construction administration, Building code analysis (IBC, ADA), Zoning analysis, BIM coordination, Building envelope detailing, Specifications, Space programming, 3D modeling and rendering, Sustainable design |
| Soft skills | Client communication, Design judgment, Coordination, Presentation, Mentoring, Attention to detail |
| Tools and software | Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, Grasshopper, SketchUp, Enscape, Lumion, Navisworks, Bluebeam Revu, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator |
Certifications for an architect resume
| Credential | Issued by | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Architect license (registered architect) | Your state architectural registration board | All states require architects to be licensed. Licensure follows a degree (most states want one from an accredited program), a paid internship and the Architect Registration Examination. List the state and that it is active. |
| Architect Registration Examination (ARE) | NCARB | Before you are licensed, list the divisions you have passed by name so a firm can see how close you are. |
| Architectural Experience Program (AXP) | NCARB | NCARB requires 3,740 hours across six experience areas. While in progress, list hours logged. |
| NCARB Certificate | NCARB | Helps with reciprocal licensure in other states; worth listing for firms with national work. |
| LEED AP BD+C | Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) | Useful for firms and owners with green building goals. |
How should you list license status, ARE and AXP progress on an architect resume?
Firms read license status before anything else, because it decides what you can stamp and how you are billed. If you are licensed, add it after your name or in your headline and list the state in a Licenses section. If you hold the NCARB Certificate, list it too, since it signals you can get licensed in another state quickly.
State laws restrict who can use the title "architect," so if you are not licensed yet, use "architectural designer" or the exact title your firm gave you. Show progress instead: the ARE divisions you have passed and your AXP hours. NCARB requires 3,740 AXP hours across six experience areas, so "AXP: 2,600 of 3,740 hours" tells a hiring partner exactly where you stand.
How do you describe projects on an architect resume?
A project line should let a principal picture the job. Give the building type, size in square feet, construction cost if you may share it, the phases you worked on and your role. Delivery method (design-bid-build, CM at risk, design-build) matters to firms that do a lot of one type.
Experienced architects can add a Selected Projects section under the work history with 3 to 6 entries. Keep it to one line each and save images for the portfolio.
- Type and size: "68,000 SF outpatient clinic"
- Cost: "$31M construction cost"
- Phases: SD, DD, CD, bidding, CA
- Your role: "project architect, led a team of 5"
- Result: permit in one review round, LEED rating, change orders under 3%
Should an architect resume include a portfolio?
Yes. Firms almost always ask for one, and the resume should point to it with a short URL in the header. Send a work sample of about 10 to 15 pages with the application and keep a longer portfolio for the interview.
Label your role on every project in the portfolio and credit the firm. A hiring partner who recognizes a building will ask what you personally drew, detailed or coordinated, so make the resume and portfolio tell the same story.
What is the best architect resume format?
Use a clean, single-column reverse-chronological resume. Many architects design elaborate graphic resumes, but columns, icons and text inside images can scramble in applicant tracking systems at larger firms. Let the portfolio show your design sense and keep the resume easy to read.
One page suits students and designers with under 5 years of experience. Project architects and senior staff can use two pages if the second holds a Selected Projects list. This guide covers building architects; if you design software systems, see the solutions architect guide instead.
ATS keywords for an architect resume
Terms that show up in architect job postings. Mirror the exact wording of the posting you apply to, but only for work you have done.
- Architect
- project architect
- architectural designer
- Revit
- AutoCAD
- BIM
- schematic design
- design development
- construction documents
- construction administration
- building codes
- IBC
- ADA
- RFIs
- submittals
- specifications
- LEED
- NCARB
- ARE
- AXP
Mistakes to avoid on an architect resume
- Using the title "Architect" before you are licensed. Most firms and state boards care about this. Use "architectural designer" and show ARE and AXP progress instead.
- Project names with no scale. "Worked on Lakeview Clinic" says little; "68,000 SF clinic, $31M, CD through CA" shows the size of what you handled.
- A heavily designed resume layout. Columns and graphics can break in applicant tracking systems. Keep design for the portfolio.
- Software lists with no depth. "Revit" alone is vague; "ran a 240-sheet CD set in Revit and built families" shows level.
- Unclear credit on team projects. Say which phases you led and what you produced, because the interviewer may know the building.
Frequently asked questions
What should an architect resume include?
Your license status or ARE and AXP progress, a short summary of your project types, experience with projects described by type, size, cost, phases and role, the software you use, your accredited degree and a link to your portfolio.
Should I put ARE progress on my resume?
Yes, if you are working toward licensure. List the divisions you have passed and your AXP hours, for example "AXP: 2,600 of 3,740 hours." It shows a firm how soon you could be licensed.
How long should an architect resume be?
One page for students and designers with under 5 years of experience. Project architects and senior architects can use two pages when the second page lists selected projects.
Do architects need a portfolio with their resume?
Almost always. Put a short portfolio link in your header and send a 10 to 15 page work sample with your application, labeling your role on each project.
How much do architects make?
The BLS reports a median pay of $99,280 per year for architects in May 2025, with employment projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035. Pay varies by region, firm size and license status.
Is this guide for software architects too?
No. It covers building architects. Software and cloud architects should follow a solutions architect resume guide, which focuses on systems, platforms and technical design.
Related guides
Sources, checked 27 October 2026
We opened every page below on that date. Pay, rules and requirements change, so check the source before you rely on a detail.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Architects (median pay, education, outlook, number of jobs, licensing steps)
- NCARB: Become an Architect (education, experience and examination steps, ARE 5.0, NCARB Certificate)
- NCARB: AXP Experience Requirements (AXP hours and experience areas)